Charles l



(No Model.)

0. L. CURTIS.

HARMONICA.

Patented June 7, 1898. J

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES L. CURTIS, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y. ASSIGNOR TO FERDINAND STRAUSS, OF SAME PLACE.

HARMONICA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,083, dated June '7, 1898- Application filed January 6, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. CURTIS, of New York city, county and State of New York,have invented an Improved Harmonica, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a harmonica of novel construction and provided with acover which is made in the form of one integral case that surrounds the sides and ends of the reed-block and is provided with a flanged or slotted front that exposes the blow-holes, while the reed-block is confined and centered within the case. The reed-block is adapted to be introduced into the case through the back thereof, which is provided with means for permanently or removably locking the reed-block in place by pressing it against the slotted front, all as hereinafter morefullydescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cover detached; Fig. 1, a front View of the harmonica complete; Fig. 2, a cross-section of the cover; Fig. 3, a side view, partly broken away, of the harmonica complete; Fig. 4, a back view thereof; Fig. 5, a detail of part of the harmonica, showing the catch open; Fig. 6, a back View of a modification of the harmonica; and Fig. 7, a side View, partly broken away, of a further modification.

The letter (t represents the reed-carrying cell-block of a harmonica, made of the usual or suitable construction. I) is the cover, made in the form of a continuous hollow case open at the back and closed at the sides and, ends and of such a size as to completely inclose the block. At thefront the cover has an inward-extending flange b, that so engages the front of the cell-block as to leave uncovered or open all of the blow-holes of the reed-block a, Fig. 1, and permit the instrument to be played while in the case. The ends of the cover are bulged outward at the center, Fig.

Serial No. 665,738. (No model.)

4, to form pockets that receive the reed-block and center it within the cover, so that the proper air-spaces are left between the reeds and cover.

The back of cover I) is entirely or partly open for the insertion of block a and is provided with means for removably or permanently locking the block within the cover by crowding it against the slotted frontb of the same.

Thus in Figs. 1 to 5 the cover I) is provided with inward-extending hooks biadapted to be engaged by the heads of spring plungers or catches a, secured Within mortises of block a. The spring-plungers have also a tilting motion, so that they maybe withdrawn from underneath the hooks, Fig. 5, when theblock is unlocked and may be withdrawn.

In Fig. 6 the spring-plungers are replaced by latches c, pivoted to the back of block a at o and adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the hooks b In Fig. 7 the hooks 6 fold directly over the back of block a and thus lock the same permanently in place.

It will be seen that by my invention a continuous case is provided Within the ends of which the reed-block is centered in such a manner that its sides are out of contact with the sides of the case, so that unobstructed air-chambers are formed on both sides of the reed-block.

What I claim is- A harmonica composed of a continuous case having closed outwardly-bulged ends to form centering-pockets, and of a reed-block which projects with its ends into such pockets, substantially as specified.

CHARLES L. CURTIS.

\Vitn esses:

FERDINAND STRAUSS, FRANK V. BRIESEN. 

